AVA - PA
| Volkssporting began in Pennsylvania with the founding of the first walking club in 1981. There are now a number of clubs in most regions of the state. The Keystone State Volkssport Association (KSVA) is the state representative to the American Volkssport Association. |
| Pennsylvania abounds in parks and forest preserves. One can enjoy the beauty and serenity of Brandywine, the first trails of Pine Grove Furnace, Little Buffalo and French Creek, and sections of the Appalachian Trail. Walkers and bikers have enjoyed the quiet country roads of Lancaster County where it is commonplace to see the Old Order Amish going about their simple lifestyle in distinctive garb. |
| What is Volkssporting? |
| The term Volkssport - literally "folk" sport - means sport of the people. It is an organized event for the general public. It is not a contest. Participants go at their own pace. There are five types of events (walk, bike, swim, skiing and snowshoeing or rollerskating). The most popular type being: |
| Volksmarches - organized walks or hikes, normally 5 to 10 kilometers (3.1 to 6.2 miles). Participants may walk, jog or run. Each person finishing is a winner. Some walks are held in cities and can be accomplished by persons in wheelchairs, or by families with small children in wagons or strollers. Others are more challenging and are planned over natural trails in parks and woods. Some have steep hills and very uneven ground, and a few may even require ropes and other assists. Event brochures provide descriptions of the trail, difficulty, location, and date and time of the event. |
| Volkssporting is International — It all began in southern Germany in the early 1960's with public running races (volkslauf). These events became so popular that, in 1968, the Internationaler Volkssportverband (IVV) was founded by West Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria. Other countries have joined, with many more showing interest. Future volksmarchers may be able to walk around the world one day! |
| Volkssports in the United States started in Fredericksburg, Texas in 1976. The American Volkssport Association (AVA) was formally organized and officially recognized by the IVV as a member country in June, 1979. The AVA has a little over 300 clubs. We put on hundreds of events each year, promoting the benefits of physical exercise for everyone. The primary purpose of volkssporting is exercise that anyone can enjoy with companionship and souvenir awards as an added bonus. |
Seasonal Events
KSVA YRE Booklet
Second Book — Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests Challenge Booklet
August 1, 2016